How often should I feed my tortoise?

[Tanner Fry]

I'm wondering how often I should feed my tortoise now that it is eating. Once every two days? A little bit every day?

 

[Tom]

Tortoises are grazers. Feed it as much of the correct foods as it wants every day. Russian tortoises should be eating a lot of broadleaf weeds of the right type. Certain leaves and flowers are good too.

Skip the text of this sulcata thread, and just skip down to the food suggestion list:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

 

[wellington]

Second atoms post, every day.

 

[Tortoise lover 2000]

Try lettuce romaine and apples and carrots as treats. Not too much apples and carrots because they are sweet and don't have much fibers. Feed food with high amounts of fiber. Tom Is right tortoises are grazers give him lots of food and replenish it every time he finishes it. Ps I also have a Russian.

 

[Tom]

I would not feed apple, or romaine to a russian ever. Maybe a small amount of grated carrot mixed in with other greens once in a while.

 

[Jodie]

I would not feed apple, or romaine to a russian ever. Maybe a small amount of grated carrot mixed in with other greens once in a while.

Why never romaine? I know it is pretty empty, but thought it was fairly good for hydration?

 

[Tom]

Why never romaine? I know it is pretty empty, but thought it was fairly good for hydration?

Because, as you said, its empty. It fills up their stomach, taking the place of better foods that should be in there, and offers very little benefit.

 

[Jodie]

Because, as you said, its empty. It fills up their stomach, taking the place of better foods that should be in there, and offers very little benefit.

Thank you.

 

[Tortoise lover 2000]

Dunno. I feed all kinds of lettuce to my tortoises they seem to like it.

 

[JoesMum]

Dunno. I feed all kinds of lettuce to my tortoises they seem to like it.

There's a difference between liking a food and it being a nutritional benefit.

Children adore candy, chocolate and chips. None of those should be the main part of their diet.

Lettuces are fine. They do no harm. But the nutrition and fiber content is low. Iceberg is the real baddy; romaine and little gem are better but still shouldn't be the majority of a tort's diet.

 

[dkosnik]

My Russian Tortoise, Ty is an eater! Every morning, I shower and put him a little tub to soak. When I'm done I let him roam for a bit but he knows where the food is so that's where he goes! I try to mix up his food choices between leafy greens, green beans, squash, carrots and a radish. Not all at once, of course.

 

[jsheffield]

I feed my redfoot every day, but don't worry if I miss a day or three when I'm away from home.

Jamie

 

[dkosnik]

Jamie, I'm in the same boat. I'm at my girlfriends' every weekend. Maybe that's why he eats so much. Seriously, I think one of two days away should be fine but I'd like to hear from others on this matter.

 

[jsheffield]

I've left him for a week-long absence, twice, although both times I left a large pile of pothos leaves in the enclosure ... he's done fine, although I waited until he was over 100g before leaving him this long.

I think as long as the temp and humidity of the enclosure are dialed in and stable, it's no problem for tortoises to go without us for a while.

Jamie

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Dunno. I feed all kinds of lettuce to my tortoises they seem to like it.

That’s why we are all here : not to just teach but to learn also ! Aren’t you happy your here .